In a groundbreaking event in Beijing, twenty-one humanoid robots competed alongside thousands of human runners in the world’s first half-marathon featuring robots. The robots ran in separate lanes, divided by barriers for safety, while support teams managed battery swaps at seven aid stations along the 21-kilometer course. This innovative race showcased the latest advances in humanoid robotics and endurance technology.
The star of the event was Tiangong Ultra, a 1.8-meter-tall robot weighing around 52 kilograms. Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong Ultra completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, maintaining a steady pace between 7 and 8 km/h with bursts up to 12 km/h. Its success was attributed to advanced algorithms mimicking human running patterns, enhanced joint stability, and improved heat and shock resistance.
Battery management was a crucial factor in the robots’ performance. Each battery swap during the race added a 10-minute penalty, requiring teams to carefully balance speed and endurance. Tiangong Ultra needed three battery changes, highlighting the current limitations in robot energy capacity. The battery swap stations used sophisticated robotic arms and fast-charging systems, technologies already proven effective in commercial robot fleets and electric vehicles.
Despite some robots falling or crashing during the race, the event marked a significant milestone in humanoid robotics. It demonstrated how far robot design and control algorithms have come, while also revealing the challenges that remain in creating machines capable of sustained, stable long-distance running alongside humans. This half-marathon paves the way for future innovations in robot mobility and endurance.
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